Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The University of Hawai`i softball team (49-11, 16-2 WAC) defeated Loyola Marymount, 9-0 in six innings to advance to the Super Regionals for the first time in UH history. Justine Smethurst (19-8) struck out seven en route to a four-hit shut-out. Kate Robinson went 3-for-4 with four RBI and Tyleen Tausaga also went 3-for-4 with three runs scored to lead UH to the victory at Easton Stadium in front of a crowd of 379.

The 'Bows started out quickly right out of the gate. Tanisha Milca started things off with a hard hit grounder to short. The shortstop couldn't come up with the ball cleanly and Milca reached safely on the error. Next, Clare Warwick hit a single back up the middle to put runners on at first and second. Then, after a fly out to left, Tausaga got another hit up the middle to load the bases. Robinson follwed with a two-run base hit to center to drive in Milca and a hustling Warwick from second and third respectively. Brandi Peiler then hit a grounder deep in the 5-6 hole to load the bases again. With only one out in the inning, LMU changed their pitcher, Tiffany Pagano. Melissa Dykema came in relief to face Valana Manuma. Manuma proceeded to hit a sacrifice fly to rightfield, driving in Tausaga from third to end Hawai`i's scoring in the top of the first inning, with the 'Bows leading 3-0.

Lions' pitcher Dykema gave up at least one hit in the next three innings, but was able to hold the Rainbow Wahine off the scoreboard until the fifth. Gould started the rally off with a single to rightfield. Tausaga then hit a grounder to short that was misfielded, allowing both runners to be safe and advance a base. Robinson stepped to the plate with runners at first and second and came through with her second hit of the day, driving in Gould from third to leave runners at the corners for Peiler. She kept things going with another hit to rightfield that scored Tausaga from third. Manuma then got another opposite field single to right to load the bases for the third time in the game. Alana Power hit a grounder to short who was able to get Robinson, the lead runner, a the plate for the innings first out. Then, Katie Grimes hit a single to left to drive in pinch runner Richie-Anne Titcomb. Milca followed with a ground ball back to the pitcher. Dykema's only play was at first after knocking it down, which allowed Manuma to score the fourth run of the inning.

Hawai`i then put the game away in the top of the sixth. Gould started the rally again with a single up the middle. Tausaga followed with her third hit of the day to place runners at first and second for Robinson. She got her fourth RBI of the game with a double to the left-centerfield gap that scored Gould from second. After a fly out to left, Manuma finished Hawai`i's scoring with a single down the leftfield line that drove in Tausga from third, allowing UH to go up, 9-0.

For Smethurst, it was her 21st complete game and 10th shut-out of the season. She fired 78 pitches, 68 of them were strikes. No LMU runner reached third base in six innings of play.

Loyola Marymount's Pagano started the game and lasted 0.1 innings before being lifted for Dykema. But Pagano re-entered to close the game in the sixth. She finished the game with 1.1 innings pitched, giving up three runs on six hits with no walks or strike outs. Dykema threw the balance of 4.2 innings. She gave up six runs on 10 hits with one strike out.

Hawai`i's leading hitters for the game were:
Warwick - 2-for-4, one run
Gould - 2-for-4, two runs
Tausaga - 3-for-4, three runs
Robinson - 3-for-4, four RBI
Peiler - 2-for-3, one RBI
Manuma - 2-for-3, one run, two RBI

This is the first time Hawai`i has ever won a Regional in seven post-season appearances. The Rainbow Wahine will now travel to Knoxville, Tenn. to take on the fifth seed of the tournament, Tennessee. In the Super Regional, there are only two teams and to advance, you must win a three-game series.

-UH-